Livos Australia's Blog

The Livos Kunos natural oil sealer fits the bill. The VOC emissions and content of the oil has been independently tested, measured, confirmed and accepted. Confirmation of no red list chemicals present in the product and the full list of ingredients are openly declared.

The Ardvos is truly a Universal oil and is suitable for all types of timbers as well as concrete floors. A natural oiled surface once cured is easy to maintain and develops a warm and luscious sheen to the surface while providing full protection from everyday living.

For concrete floors, mixing in 5-10% of the Vindo natural gloss paint provides the floors with a different but still transparent tint. From the very popular white (keeping the colour as if untreated) right down to blues and reds, there’s an option for everybody! The pores trap the pigments without creating a painted effect.

Creating a healthy home for your family is not difficult to do. Livos products are plant based, breathable and completely natural with a full ingredient disclosure which means no nasties. An added benefit is they are vapour permeable, which means breathable.

Livos have an oil to cater for all needs, including tables and benches, whether timber or concrete!

The Kunos countertop oil #243 is a heat resistant, certified food safe, completely natural coating that can be used in domestic situations as well as commercial. Even safe enough to put on a teething ring.

Prepared and treated correctly, timber can give an added warmth to the “heart and soul” of a home. Timber is soothing, a natural substrate and it should be treated with a natural coating to maintain its tactile feel and breathability. Applying a synthetic coating is like wrapping it up in plastic.

There is a lot of time spent on discussions, design and sourcing of materials but often that is where it stops, be it a house design or furniture piece.

Why go to the trouble of sourcing FSC certified timbers or reclaimed timber to then apply or specify a synthetic/water-based product? Whether creating furniture, treating joinery, even timber or concrete floors for that matter, there is a natural penetrating oil to suit. Natural here meaning based on renewable raw materials, less process and a full ingredient disclosure.

The Livos natural oils are becoming increasingly popular with furniture makers, joiners and wood turners/hobbyists alike. The oils provide a beautiful, natural lustre to any surface, whether timber, veneer or ply. The non-offensive smell and the fact that it’s completely nontoxic and food safe allows it to be used anywhere from kitchen cabinetry, tables, chopping boards even to teething rings and children’s toys.

The Livos penetrating oils are suitable for all types of substrates, from timbers, ply, OSB, even concrete and porous stones. In internal as well as external situations. These natural oils are easy to maintain, rejuvenate and develop a warm and luscious sheen to the surface while providing protection from everyday living.

The oils have the additional benefits of being good for your health as they only contain 100% natural sustainably harvested ingredients, making them great for our environment. Every product has a full, readily available ingredients list so you can make a fully informed choice.

Cork is a truly a renewable raw material in the full sense of the word. It comes from the outer layer of the cork oak, which is peeled every 10 years or so, and then it rebuild itself to completely new again. When the cork granules are mixed with natural glue resin, the result is a true 100% natural product. Cork is becoming popular again due to the material being durable, insulating, soundproof, foot warm and also easy to maintain. Synthetic coatings used when sealing cork tiles often contain many harmful materials that may cause chemically sensitive people to develop allergic reactions or respiratory problems. The optimal solution, and to stay true to the nature of the material would be to obtain untreated cork, then seal the surface with a natural resin hardening oil such as the LIVOS Kunos natural oil sealer. This sealer connects with the surface and ensures a layer that is water and dirt proof.

Flooring: The original slab contained a white oxide, was burnished and treated with the Livos natural penetrating oil in the white stain. The combination of the oil/wax/resin mix included white pigments as an all in one product to maintain the white look of the slab.

Wanting a beachy look, or the surface to look raw or untreated? Why not, this is becoming an increasingly popular look, especially on ply and concrete. Whilst the clear oil highlights and deepens the colour of the substrate one is working on, sometimes it is nice to keep it in its original sanded and untreated look.

The Kunos white oil is a great alternative and increasing in its popularity for this reason. Not only does it keep the substrate from yellowing, it is completely non toxic, easy to use as well as having an economical coverage rate.

The oil is an all in one stain and sealer combining the benefits of penetrating oils, hardening resins and water-resistant waxes and in the case, white pigments. If using on timber, remember that timber is a natural material and often comes with its own individual characteristics and imperfections. The oil will allow these natural imperfections to be visible, even after oiling. When using a stain, you need to remember sanding needs to be more exact. Any scratches in the surface left by sanding paper will be highlighted even more. As the oils are penetrating oils, one can also manipulate the intensity of the white by the sanding process.

In Australia more and more, concrete slabs are being used due to the increased awareness of the thermal properties of a slab. As one knows this is most useful and works well where the climate is cool or there is a high temperature range.

A lot of coatings and finishes are relatively new to being applied to concrete, many having only been on the market for a short period of time. This combined with building practices, concrete substrates, deadlines and ones expectations of the final finish can often lead to a disappointing result.

By now, most of us are aware of the harmful impact that mass produced furniture has on the environment, so it is no surprise to see an increase in people making green choices when furnishing their homes.

Whether we are choosing one off handmade pieces; purchasing from sustainable furniture makers or even recycled and antique furniture, these decisions mean we will be making great choices for the future of our planet, while choosing products that can stand the test of time… with the proper care and maintenance that is!

Essential to the long life of our wooden furniture, is the necessity to protect it from the natural elements; the sun’s harmful UV rays, heat, humidity and water. After choosing a beautiful addition for our home, we want to show it off and use it daily, so we must take good care of it to ensure it lasts. And with the conscious decision to fill our homes with sustainable furniture, we need complement those choices with sustainable products to ensure the proper care and maintenance.

Even in Bathrooms, Livos has a solution for timber vanities and storage solutions.

Prepared and treated correctly, timber can add an added warmth to a usually cold looking room. Timber is soothing, a natural substrate and it should be treated with a natural coating to maintain its tactile feel and breathability.

Once a rigid varnish system is compromised, that is the surface is broken, the timber will start to grey off under the coating. This can only be repaired by sanding the entire surface back completely.

Whilst the LINN Bathroom oil #1703 may look like a varnish, the higher wax content provides not only the added sheen and excellent protection from most soaps and moisture, however also allows for the ease of rejuvenation at a later stage.

Timber does not like a lot water and as with any coating, to keep the surface looking ideal, do not let water sit too long on the surface and clean with the appropriate PH neutral cleaner.

As with all Livos products it has a full ingredient disclosure and is economical to use. It can be applied by various means and may also be combined with other Livos products such as the stains to achieve a different look.

Vanity made by Rawk and Wood, a Melbourne based furniture company.

Call us or visit our website for more information or application details.

Whether staining ply panels in a new home or changing the colour of a much-loved furniture piece, the Livos KALDET Transparent Wood Stain No. 270 have a multitude of uses on various substrates; such as interior and exterior solid wood, veneers, OSB and Multiplex boards, as well as cabinet interiors and garden furniture.

It is a transparent penetrating stain that not only allows the timber structure to show through but also does not mask the surface with a plastic non-breathable varnish. Long term, this means the surface will be easier to touch up and rejuvenate by applying another coat when the surface appears dull.

Whether in a new build or older site, home, office or otherwise, mould spores are everywhere. In certain conditions havoc is created. To some it will be no issue at all except that it looks unsightly however to many it could be life threatening. Whilst one may not be affected by mould, (or a chemical for that matter) now one can very easily become sensitive to it at a later stage.

Livos have an eco-friendly solution for the treatment of mould and fungus. With the new active substance Peroxicarbonconnections which is formed from the available oxygen and fruit acids.

Full gloss enamel that looks and performs like solvent based paint but no nasty chemicals

ZERO or LOW VOC wall paint and tints

Pleasant smell

Conventional paints may harbour less odour yet continue to omit harmful toxic emissions for long periods of time. Livos Paints do not emit toxic fumes, are safe to use, safe to recycle and have excellent quality, coverage and provide beautiful cover.

The countertop oil is very versatile and can be used anywhere from commercial situations such as shop displays, especially where there is food contact such as bread bins or vegetable boxes, joinery, furniture, chopping board, kitchens benches, woodturning and safe enough for teething rings.

It was a combination of events that led the city of Yarra Council to contract the sanding and oiling of several of their timber floors at various city locations. One such place was the beautiful old hardwood floor at the Fitzroy Town hall, dating back to 1873 and recorded as a ‘Heritage place’ by Heritage Victoria.

A truly sustainable design means considering the environmental impact of all construction materials right down to the paints and finishes.

Assisting architects and designers, demonstrating to trades people and educating home owners about their options for healthy, environmentally responsible living is a key part of what we do. Livos does not only manufacture environmentally sustainable products, we are also committed to helping people live more sustainably.

Have you received a beautiful gift treated with the Livos products or moved into a house that has had their floors, bench tops or deck treated with a Livos product? Are you unsure of how to maintain these surfaces? Or is it simply time to rejuvenate or repair any of the surfaces you have around your home treated with Livos?

We are thrilled to have been part of the Winner of the 2016 HIA Greensmart display house award. NEATHOUSE have made excellent use of the Livos ALIS decking oil in the light teak stain on the beautiful deck and exterior cladding.

Can the paint I use really make a difference to my health and the environment?

Yes, it most certainly can. By reducing the negative impacts of paints we can end up having a neutral or positive effect on our personal health, the home environment and the environment in general.

Typically, paints are made up of four basic elements; pigments to achieve colour, binders to hold the pigment to the surface after application, solvents that provide the fluid component of paint and fillers that reinforce the binders and provide texture.

Face painters are everywhere…at fetes, farmers markets, birthday parties, festivals and school events. And, with Christmas just around the corner, purchases of face and body paint will be at their peak.

But, what is in face paint? What is actually being absorbed by your child's skin or ingested when it’s applied near their mouth?

Do you like the limed beachy look to your floors or furniture? Do you have a timber that you do not want to deepen in colour? Whilst the clear oil highlights and deepens the colour of the substrate, one is working on, sometimes it is nice to keep it looking as if it is untreated or in its original sanded and untreated look.

Having efficient eco homes is not about living in a mud hut in a paddock! It’s about being smart with your choices, efficient with your resources and protecting the future of your best asset! There are many myths around relating to creating a green home, we think it’s about time some of those myths were busted! So here goes.

The livos non toxic oils are suitable for all types of timbers as well as concrete and porous stones, these natural oils are easy to maintain and develop a warm and luscious sheen to the surface while providing full protection from everyday living.

We all have to watch our spending and budgets so one always compares prices. But don't stop there. At first glance, the prices of some of our products may appear higher than competing products. However, when the coverage rates are compared, Livos natural oils are actually more economical.

With indoor to outdoor spaces now flowing together, this is a question that is being asked after more and more. This can be achieved but often with difficulty. It will be dependent on your priorities and if this is best for each area.

Australian hardwoods not only have a huge variety in colour and texture, more often they are also denser in structure, especially in comparison to many European timbers.
Why is this of any importance you may ask?

Removing walls and need to patch up the timber floor?
Whatever the species it is always best to go to the trouble of sourcing old recycled timber. It won't be as easy as buying new boards but the little bit of extra effort will pay off in the long run. Yes, it is a bit more expensive than new but for most it won't break the budget. Why go to this extra effort?

All puttying should be completed prior to sanding. If the floors are very rough and uneven, an initial rough sand can take place prior to puttying. Livos recommends Timber mate putty (available in various colours at most hardware stores)

If using epoxy putty or resins, especially to fill large holes, the surface should be slightly roughened to match the surface of the timber. (Otherwise it will show up as shinny spots on a satin finish). A suggestion would be to use black (ebony) putty in gum veins or natural imperfections to highlight these “natural” imperfections. For man made holes such as nail holes use a colour as close as possible to the timber. When using a stain the putty will absorb the colour of the stain.

This beautiful Town hall in Collingwood has been given a new lease on life with the Livos natural timber oils. These boards can now be kept forever as no more sanding is required to for maintanence, all that is needed is a quick top up of oil when required.

To keep your floors looking great particular attention to maintenance is needed. Whilst oiled floors are easy to repair and rejuvenate, paying particular attention to high traffic areas regularly makes long term maintenance a breeze

In Australia more and more concrete slabs are being used due to the increased awareness of the thermal properties of a slab. Concrete flooring is most useful and works well where the climate is cool or there is a high temperature range.

If you want a high gloss, plastic mirror finish, then the Livos oils are not for you. A varnished floor has a plastic coating covering the timber boards. These coatings are generally hard, and edge bond the boards together. That is, the coating does not allow the boards to move, which may cause wide, uneven gaps in some floors. So-called water based coatings and urethane based ‘Tung Oils’ also create a coating, however they generally do not edge bond the boards as the coatings are not as strong.

Cork is a truly a renewable raw material in the full sense of the word. It comes from the outer layer of the cork oak, which is peeled every 10 years or so, and then it rebuild itself to completely new again. When the cork granules are mixed with natural glue resin, the result is a true 100% natural product.

Do you believe a low or no VOC Synthetic product is healthier for you than a natural product with a relatively high VOC figure?

The issue is the type of VOC not how much VOC.

This information is aimed to provide food for thought when selecting products based on their VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) information and why other important issues must also be considered when choosing paints and finishes.

When urine comes into contact with an oiled floor we would recommend washing the area with a ph neutral cleaner as soon as possible. However when urine is left on the oils even after cleaning an unsightly black mark usually follows, sometimes this can 'disappear' over time with air and ventilation but for many the area remains marked.

More and more woodworkers are turning to the Livos products to use on their furniture. They are loving the natural lustre it gives their beautiful pieces as well it's natural, non offensive smell and the fact that it's completely non toxic!

The natural resins, waxes, and oils in Livos products impregnate the timber and seal it from within, allowing you to still feel the natural timber under your feet. A varnish coating forms a plastic layer on top. Over time this "plastic" coating will start to peel and wear off. Because the Livos products penetrate into the timber there is no coating as such to peel off. This allows for an easier rejuvenation down the track without the need to sand your boards, which means no dust and no moving out of your home for days whilst it is completed! Also sanding the boards each time you want your floors done will eventually wear down the timber and you will need to replace the timber which can be quite costly.